Published: October 10, 2008 06:57 am            

Eight vie to represent Eubank

Local News

Eubank’s road will lead straight to the polls this Nov. 4, as citizens of the cozy northern Pulaski Community choose their local elected representatives.

Eight individuals will be trying for only four spots on the Eubank City Commission, to be elected at-large and serve with Mayor Frey Todd, who has another two years remaining in his term.

It will be the newcomers vs. the returning favorites — all four current commissioners have filed for re-election. Leonard Lee Coffee, Edward Ray Hicks, Kenneth Nothstein and Curtis G. Todd will be seeking to hold on to their seats, while Connie Belcher, Alton Fulcher Jr., Bill Jones and Penny Jones are the new faces looking to serve a two-year term.

All eight were given the opportunity to respond to a Commonwealth Journal survey regarding their candidacy, and all but Bill Jones returned their thoughts on how they can help guide Eubank — a city currently watching infrastructural progress unfold around it with the widening of U.S. 27 and plenty buzz about an upgraded water system — into the future. Below are their responses:



1. Why do you want to serve on the Eubank City Commission and how are you qualified to be a member of the commission?

Connie Belcher: I am proud to be a lifelong resident of Eubank. My parents opened a grocery store in the north end of town in 1969. I have had the good fortune to know most everyone in town and consider them my friend. I have been affected by the same problems as everyone in town and I would like the opportunity to work with the people of Eubank to make our town an even better place to live.

Leonard Lee Coffee: The reason I want to serve as city commissioner is to help our town and see it grow. Having served on the City Commission for the past 16 years, I feel this has qualified me to serve with experience and knowledge. Also, by owning businesses in Eubank, I know the process needed to achieve growth and development.

Alton Fulcher Jr.: Eubank is a great city with great people. I have lived in the City of Eubank since 1978. Having lived there that long makes me qualified because I understand what the people of Eubank need and want.

Edward Hicks: Eubank is a quite clean and safe community and I would like to help keep it that way. I have been a lifelong resident of Eubank and have been self-employed n several businesses in Eubank. I served 24 years on the Eubank Volunteer Fire Department and have served 16 years as Eubank Commissioner. This has given me the understanding necessary to help with the management of the city.

Penny Jones: (A.) I want to serve my community and to help it to continue to grow. I feel I can help do this by being involved in the activities of our city commission and to serve the citizens of Eubank.

( B.) I have lived in Eubank city limits for 25-and-a-half years. I have been involved in several activities in our community through the Eubank Elementary School, Ruritans, Eubank Baptist Church, and helping organizing the Annual 4th of July Celebration at our Community Park.

Kenneth Nothstein: I have lived in Eubank for 30 years. I have served on the Eubank Volunteer Fire Department for 10 years, with five of those years as chief. I have served three years as City Commissioner. I worked in construction for 45 years, retiring after 20 years with the same company in Lexington where I was a foreman. Since I am retired, I have the extra time to work for the people of Eubank.

Curtis G. Todd: I have been City Commissioner for nine years and a member of the Eubank Fire Department for 32 years. I have always had the city’s best interest at heart. I have owned a local business for 17 years. As a business owner, as well as a commissioner, you have to make tough decisions. You recieve criticism for some and praise for others. I and the other commissioners have a good working relationship among us and we have some projects started that I would like to see through.

2. What are the most important issues facing Eubank today?

Belcher: We face the same issues as everyone else in America, an economy that forces families to struggle to survive. The rising gas prices burden the citizens of Eubank and a large percentage of us travel 20 or more miles one way to work. The people of Eubank deserve to have 24-hour police protection. We need to have more community-wide activites that would include everyone, young and old alike.

Coffee: The Eubank Water System supplies water to around 5,000 homes and is in the process of upgrading and adding new lines and pumps to better serve its customers. This has been a major issue for Eubank. Finding resources necessary for this improvement as well as planning for the future is a constant challenge.

Fulcher: The Eubank water system is important to all of us. Police protection is another important aspect of the community. Doing things to help the people of Eubank. These are just some of the important issues.

Hicks: The most important issue facing Eubank is financing the city services, such as the police and water departments, and replacing outdated water lines on a limited budget. We are continuing to work with the county, state and federal government for funding these projects.

Jones: One of the issues that I’m interested in is the senior citizens center. I would love to see this become a reality for our community. The center would be at the location of the former Eubank Skating Rink. We have several senior citizens in our community that would benefit from the center. It would also be an improvement for Eubank.

Nothstein: The safety and security of our community is one of my main concerns.

Todd: One of the most important issues for Eubank, or any small town, is lack of revenue to meet demand for services. We are currently studying the feasibility of one project that we feel would be an excellent source of revenue.

3. How would you like to see the City of Eubank grow and/or develop over the next 5-10 years? How might the new U.S. 27 widening affect that?

Belcher: It would be great to see a growth in business development in Eubank to provide jobs and bring money to the community. I would like to see a family doctor and a pharmacy open up in Eubank. I think if we all work together, commissioners and the people of Eubank, we can make things happen. The new highway has already been an advantage to us by making our trips to Somerset a little smoother and quicker.

Coffee: With the expansion of U.S. 27, we need to prepare now for the growth of businesses and families. Our location gives us a unique advantage to providing that mid-point between the lake to the south and the towns to the north. The next five to 10 years could bring tremendous growth. I can remember Eubank as a thriving town. I would like to see that again. As city commissioner, I will work hard for these goals.

Fulcher: I would like to see the Eubank water system continue to expand. Perhaps some small businesses and industry to locate in Eubank. With the new four-lane just about completed, I think these things are entirely possible.

Hicks: In the next five to 10 years, I would like to see the Senior Citizens Center become a reality and more sidewalks throughout the city. The development of an afordable sewer system would bring more businesses and revenue to the city. The widening of U.S. 27 will make Eubank more accessible and encourage growth of the city.

Jones: ( A.) My hopes for Eubank: That we as a community continue to grow and to do well in the years to come. I think that the senior citizens center would help out with this. I would like to see our park continue to grow and be developed for a place for families to continue to have reunions, birthdays and have family outings. We do have one of the nicest parks in the county and I’m very proud of it.

(B.) I think the new road will bring more people to our area to visit our community park and our community, and maybe some of these people will chose to make Eubank their home.

Nothstein: I would like to see the city grow in population and with businesses. The widening of U.S. 27 will be helpful in growing the population and business community by making Eubank more accessible. It will also provide emergency services a quicker and safer response time.

Todd: The widening of U.S. 27 will cut travel time to and from Somerset considerably. We would like to see some businesses, such as restaurants, stores, or small shops, consider locating in our area. There is property available in and around Eubank that would be suitable for such businesses.

        

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